Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 18:5
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
5. troubleth me ] Rather, gives me trouble.
lest by her continual coming ] Literally, “ coming to the end,” “ coming for ever ” another colloquialism.
she weary me ] The original has the curious word hupopiaze; literally, “ should blacken me under the eyes.” Some have supposed that he is afraid lest the widow should be driven by desperation to make an assault on him (ne sugillet me, Vulg.; ne obtundat me, Beza ); but undoubtedly the word is a colloquialism (Ar. Pax, 519) retained in Hellenistic Greek, and found also in St Paul in 1Co 9:27, where it is rendered, “I keep tinder my body.” It is like the English colloquialism “to plague a person.” Comp. Mat 15:23.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. She weary me.] , Stun me. A metaphor taken from boxers, who bruise each other, and by beating each other about the face blacken the eyes. See 1Co 9:27.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
5. continual comingcoming forever.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet because this widow troubleth me,…. By often knocking at his door, by loud cries and earnest entreaties, with strong arguments, and floods of tears, and could not easily be removed from his presence, or got out of his house:
I will avenge her; I will hear her cause, do her justice, and deliver her from her troublesome adversary:
lest by her continual coming she weary me: so that it was not from a conscience of duty in him, as a judge, or from a commiseration of the poor widow’s case; but from a selfish end, for his own ease, in perfect agreement to his character, that his house might not be disturbed, and his ears stunned with her noise and cry, and he was pestered with her company day after day. The character of this judge, his reasoning with himself upon it, his principles from which he acted, and the ends he had in view, are wholly to be left out in the accommodation of this parable; and no farther to be considered than as the argument from the lesser to the greater may be strengthened by them; the intention of the parable being only to show the force, efficacy, and usefulness of importunity in prayer, as appears by the application of it, by our Lord, in the verses following.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Yet (). Delicate intensive particle of deep feeling as here.
Because this widow troubleth me ( ). Literally, because of the furnishing me trouble as to this widow (accusative of general reference with the articular infinitive).
Lest she wear me out ( ). Some take it that the judge is actually afraid that the widow may come and assault him, literally beat him under the eye. That idea would be best expressed here by the aorist tense.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Lest by her continual coming she weary me [ ] . Eijv telov, lit., unto the end, may mean continually; but weary or wear out for uJpwpiazh is more than doubtful. That word is from uJpwpion, the part of the face under the eyes, and means to strike under the eye; to give one a black eye. It is used only once again, by Paul, 1Co 9:27, and in its literal sense : “I buffet my body;” treat it as the boxer does his adversary. The more literal sense of this word, and of eijv telov, in the end, or finally, give a sound and much livelier meaning here. “Lest at last she come and assault me.” So Goebel and Meyer, and so Wyc., “Lest at the last she, coming, strangle me;” and Tynd., “Lest at the last she come and rail on me.” The judge fears lest importunity may culminate in personal violence. Perhaps, also, as Goebel suggests, he intentionally exaggerates his fear.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Yet because this widow troubleth me,” (dia ge to parechein moi kopon ten cheran pauten) “Yet because this widow causes me continual trouble,” Luk 11:8, by her repeated appeals to me for help, by her coming to me again and again, lest she wear me out, 1Ti 5:5.
2) I will avenge her,” (ekdikeso auten) I will vindicate her,” relieve her of her opponent, the one who harassed her. But not because of any mercy or compassion that I have for her, or any man or God. I will do it as a matter of self defense, not as a matter of justice.
3) “Lest by her continual coming she weary me,” (hina me eis telos erchomene hupopiaze me) “Lest she exhaust me (wear me out) in the end by her coming,” continually, repeatedly, again and again, for the same purpose. Lest she “give me a black eye, beat me up” in reporting my “no decision” for her, to the public in general.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(5) Lest by her continual coming she weary me.The latter verb is again one which takes its place in the vocabulary of unusual words common to St. Luke and St. Paul. It meets us in 1Co. 9:27, and is there rendered I keep under my body. Literally, however, it expresses the act of the pugilist when he strikes a blow which leaves a livid bruise on his opponents face, and it would seem to have been transferred, in the natural transition of popular metaphor into the forms of colloquial language, from the arena to common life. So we talk of men hitting hard or giving a knock-down blow in controversy or debate. What is described here is the continuous shower of blows, each of which is short of a knock-down, while their accumulative effect is, in the nearest equivalent of modern English, that the man is so punished that he is glad to give over at any price.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Troubleth me She might cry until doomsday before his sense of justice would be touched; but he is sensitive to the slightest touch of selfish ease.
Weary me In the original we have here a remarkable term for weary, derived from the boxer’s art. It signifies to strike below the eye, so as to produce a bruise. Hence to fatigue; or, as we might say in English, to beat out.
“ ‘Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.’ ”
In the parable the judge’s motives were not good ones. It was not his concern for justice that brought him to his decision, but his concern that he might simply be worn out by her constant pleas. The verbs used are strong ones. So he decided that in spite of the fact that he was usually unmoved by anything outside himself he would give her justice. One thing that he could not hold out against was an unwearying persistence. We can compare the principle described here with that in mind in the parable of the importunate neighbour where the same principles applied (Luk 11:5-8). We are, however, told in both cases that we are not to see God as like this. That is why the judge is differentiated from God by being called unjust. God does delay, but His delays are caused by other factors which He has to keep in mind, such as the making up of the number of the elect, and His compassion for those of lost mankind still awaiting salvation. We are thus to see it as saying, if men will act like this from a bad motive, how much more will God act like it from a good motive.
‘Lest she wear me out.’ The verb originally mean ‘to blacken the eye’ so that it is fairly strong. But there is evidence for the lesser meaning of ‘wearing out’ as having become attached to it. He is not afraid of being assaulted. He is much more concerned about having his life continually disturbed.
Luk 18:5. She weary me. ‘ : the word properly signifies to beat on the face, and particularly under the eye; so as to make the parts black and blue. Hence it signifies to beat in general: see on 1Co 9:27. In the present passage it has a metaphorical meaning, as all the translators acknowledge, though they seem to have missed the exact propriety of the metaphor; for the word ‘ here signifies to give great pain, such as arises from a severe beating. The meaning therefore is, that the uneasy feelings which this widow raised in the judge’s breast, by the moving representations that she gave him of her distress, affected him to such a degree, that he could not bear it: and therefore, to be rid of these feelings, he resolved to do her justice. The passage understood in this sense has a peculiar advantage, as it throws a beautiful light on our Lord’s argument, (Luk 18:6-7.) and lays a proper foundation for the conclusions which it contains.
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Ver. 5. She weary me ] Gr. , she buffet me, or club me down. God must be pressed in prayer till we put him (as you would say) to the blush, or leave a blot in his face, unless we may be masters of our requests. Vota fundimus, coelos tangimus, Deum tangimus, misericordiam extorquemus. (Tertul. Apol.)
5. ] belongs to , as in E. V., but has a stronger force than there lest coming for ever, she
, from , the part of the cheek immediately beneath the eyes, signifies literally to smite in the face; and proverbially (see reff.), to mortify or incessantly annoy. It answers exactly to the Latin obtundo , which Terence has in this sense, ‘ Ne me obtundas hac de re spius ,’ Adelph. i. 2. 33; and alli [103] . fr. Livy, ‘ Neque ego obtundam, spius eadem nequicquam agendo ,’ ii. 15. The Greek word does not appear to be any where used in this sense; so that the use of it here may be a Latinism, as Grotius thought. Meyer interprets it literally ‘ lest at last she should become desperate and come and strike me in the face .’ It has been observed that the Apostles acted from this very motive when they besought the Lord to send away the Syrophnician woman, ‘for she cried after them .’ Mat 15:23 .
[103] alli= some cursive mss.
Luk 18:5 . , etc.: similar expression in Luk 11:8 . The parable before us is a companion to that of the Selfish Neighbour . The two should be studied together vide The Parabolic Teaching of Christ . : the power of the petitioner in both parables lies in their ability and determination to disturb the comfort of those they address. The neighbour and the judge are both selfish, care only for their own ease, and it is that very quality that gives the suppliants their opportunity. They can annoy the reluctant into granting their requests success certain. : interpreters differ as to the meaning of this phrase, and whether it should be connected with or with . The two ways of rendering the last clause of Luk 18:5 are: lest coming continually , she weary me to death, or lest coming and coming, she at last give me black eyes; of course meant in a humorous sense. The latter rendering does more justice to the humour of the situation, but the other seems more in harmony with the scope of the parable, which is to enforce persistence in prayer continual coming. The present tense in participle and verb also seems to demand the first rendering: it points to a process in the coming and in its effect on the judge, the two keeping pace with each other. As she keeps coming, he gets more and more bored. If a final act, the use of fists (seriously or humorously meant) were pointed at by ., the aorist would have been more suitable. (So Field in Ot. Nor. ) The philological commentators differ in regard to the sense of , some taking it = perpetuo, indesinenter (Grotius, Kypke); others = tandem (Palairet); others = omnino (Raphel); all citing examples.
because. Greek dia. App-104. Luk 18:2.
continual. Greek. eis telos = to the end.
weary me = pester, litearl. give me a blow under the eye. Greek. hupopiazo. Occurs only here and in 1Co 9:27 (“buffet “).
5.] belongs to , as in E. V., but has a stronger force than there-lest coming for ever, she
, from , the part of the cheek immediately beneath the eyes, signifies literally to smite in the face;-and proverbially (see reff.), to mortify or incessantly annoy. It answers exactly to the Latin obtundo, which Terence has in this sense, Ne me obtundas hac de re spius, Adelph. i. 2. 33; and alli[103]. fr.-Livy, Neque ego obtundam, spius eadem nequicquam agendo, ii. 15. The Greek word does not appear to be any where used in this sense;-so that the use of it here may be a Latinism, as Grotius thought. Meyer interprets it literally-lest at last she should become desperate and come and strike me in the face. It has been observed that the Apostles acted from this very motive when they besought the Lord to send away the Syrophnician woman,-for she cried after them. Mat 15:23.
[103] alli= some cursive mss.
Luk 18:5. , I will avenge her) for My own sake.-, lest she beat me black and blue[197]) An hyperbole suitable to the character of the unjust and impatient judge. Refer to this verb the words . For , is as it were (redundant), which might be omitted, and yet the idea of the sentence remain intact and entire; the employment of it, however, imparts to the language sweetness and characteristic feeling, etc. [See Append. on Moratus Sermo.] The importunity of the widow in seeking help waxed greater and greater.
[197] Lest she weary me. , Th. , the part beneath the eye: hence to give a black eye; as Latin, sugillo from sub cilia. Metaphorically, to tease or weary.-E. and T.
because: Luk 11:8, Jdg 16:16, 2Sa 13:24-27
weary: Luk 18:39, Mat 15:23, Mar 10:47, Mar 10:48
Reciprocal: Jdg 14:17 – she lay Neh 6:4 – four times Psa 63:8 – followeth
Luk 18:5. Because this widow troubleth me. He is willing to give justice, though for a very unjust reason. Even from such a man importunity can gain its end; from her conduct hitherto he infers that she will persist and trouble him yet more.
She… wear me out. The literal meaning is: lest she smite me in the face, beat my face black and blue. This is to be taken, not literally, but figuratively, as setting forth the troublesome effects of a womans incessant demands, worrying into compliance one who feared not God and regarded not man. Our Lord drew His illustrations, not from ideal characters, but from people whom He saw about Him. Comp. the conduct of the disciples, Mat 15:23.
Verse 5
Avenge her; hear and judge her cause.
18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she {c} weary me.
(c) Literally, “beat me down with her blows”, and it is a metaphor taken of wrestlers who beat their adversaries with their fists or clubs: in the same way those that are persistent beat the judge’s ears with their crying out, even as it were with blows.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes